Storage tank



June 19, 1923.

O. S. FLATH STORAGE TANK Filed Nov. 30 1921 fifenm Patented June 19, 1923.

OTTO S. FLATH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STORAGE TANK.

Application filed November 30, 1921. Serial No. 518,778.

To all NILOHII it may cow-er):

Be it known that l, O'r'ro S. FLATII, a citizen of the l'nitcd States, and a resident of Chicago. in the county of (ook and State of lllino's, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage Tanks, of which the following is a description. reference being had to the accompanying drawing. whiz-h forms a part ofmy specification.

My invention relates more particularly to tanks for the storage of oil. namely the type of tank which is intended to be submerged or buried in the ground with the exception of the upper part of the dome or neck of the tank. which part is provided with a suit able cover.

The object of my invention is to provide a tank constructed entirely of metal and formed to provide a selfisustaining or reenforced tank having a dome or neck which is provided with an inner cover member adapted to support a filling tube, a pump whereby the oil is extracted from the tank, and also a measuring or indicating gauge; the inner closure member assisting in retarding the evaporation of the contents and the escape of the vapors when the outer or main cover is opened.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the drawing. wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of my improved tank.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view. with portions broken away. of a modified form of tank.

The invention relates to a tank adapted for the storage of oils and more particularly for the storage of gasoline and is intended to be sunken or buried in the ground up to a point where merely the upper end of the neck or dome will be exposed aboye the ound so that access to the tank may be The invention. in its specific embodiment as disclosed in Figure 1. comprises the side wall 10 consisting preferably of a metallic shell or cylinder having corrugations as at 11 disposed circumferentially thereabout at suitable intervals apart for the purpose of reenforcing the side walls. The lower end of the shell or cylinder 10 is provided with a metallic bottom 12 which is preferably 1 made with the substantially U-shaped peripheral flange 13 adapted to receive the side wall between the legs or portions of the flange: the bottom and side well being welded or otherwise suitably secured together to provide a fluid-tight joint; the flanglng at the same time reenforcing the tank at the lower or bottom end thereof.

Instead of employing the circ mferential corrugations as shown, the Sid wall may be reenforced in any other suitable manner or by difl'erently disposed corrugations or ribs. The top of the main portion of the shell or tank, in the cylindrical construction shown in Figure 1, comprises a metallic disc 14 havng its periphery preferably flanged to provide the inverted U-shaped formation shown at 15 adapted to fit over the upper end of the shell or side wall and to be welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto so as to provide a fluid-tight connection. The top wall or disc 14 is apertured as shown in Figure 1 to provide a passage for the elements later to be described. The tank is provided with a separately formed dome or neck 16. the lower end whereof is preferably bent inwardly and arranged parallel with the portion of the top 14, adjacent the opening therein thereby enabling the neck to be secured to the body portion by welding or otherwise and also provide an inwardly disposed flange 17. The dome or neck 16 is also constructed of sheet metal and preferably reenforced by crimping or corrugating it circumferentially as shown at 18. By constructing the neck; with an inwardly, disposed flange at the lower end, arranged parallel with the top of the tank a flange of double thickness is provided and the tank given extra reenforcement at the juncture of the tank and neck. The flange or shoulder 17 is intended to also constitute a support or seat for an inner cover member or plate 19 which is apertured at suitable points to receive a filling tube 20. a suitable and operated pump 21. and also a, measuring gauge or member 22. The inner cover member 19 has the openings therein so formed and the elements just referred'to so secured thereto, to-Wit the filling tube, pump and measuring gauge, that the may all be lifted out of the tank u on t e removal of the inner cover mern r 19. In order that the inner cover member 19 may be firmly held or secured in place, the dome or neck 16 of the construction shown in enforced by ribs which may be integral with or secure Figure 1 and on the inner circumference thereof is provided with suitable lugs 23, 25), 0 the neck, preferably at diametrically opposite points and arranged in a plane sl ghtly above the inner cover member 19 when the latter is on its seat. The inner cover member, at diametrically opposite points, is notched at 24 to permit the cover member to be slipped over the lugs 23 when inserted into place or removed from its seat on the inwardly disposed flange or shoulder 17; while a slight turn given to the cover member when on its seat will shift the notches out of register with the lugs 23 and cause the cover to be locked in place.

It will he understood that the pump 21 is intended to be provided with a suitable hose as indicated at 25 which latter may be coiled about within the dome or neck 16 when not in use.

The upper end of the dome or neck 16 is flared or flanged outwardly as shown at 26 and provided with a metallic ring, preferably right angular in cross-section, as shown at 27 the flange and ring being arranged to provide a'flat bearing surface for an 'outer cover member 28. The ring 27 is also adapted to provide means for securing the cover in place, which 18 accomplished by providing one side of the outer cover 28 with a lip or lug 29 adapted to fit about the flanged ring; while the' opposite side of the outer cover member 28 may be provided with a downwardly disposed lug or lip 30 adapted to extend into uxtapo sition with an outwardly disposed ear or lobe 31 secured to the side of the dome or neck 16. The lug or lip 30 and the lobe or car 31 are both shown apertured to receive a suitable lock after the lip 29 at the opposite side of the cover has been placed into interlocking relation with the ring 27, and thus prevent the unauthorized removal of the outer cover member 28, v

In Figure 3 I show a modified form of my improved tank particularly in sofar as the formation of the top or dome portion thereofv is concerned; the tank in this construction consisting of the side wall 32. which may be made substantially similar to the side wall 10 in the construction shown in Figure 1; re-

or corrugations or in any other suit-able manner. The side wall 32 is shown at its bottom with an upturned portion or edge at 33 to receive the downwardly bent orflanged periphery of the bottom 34 therebetween, to enable the bottom and side wall to be weldedor otherwise secure together to form a fluid-tight joint. The top of the tank shown in Figure 3 consists of an upwardly sloping wall or dome portion 3:: suitably secured to the side wall 32, as for example by bending the lower end of the dome portion 35 into the substantially inverted U-shape formation shown at 36, to fit about the upper end of the side wall 32 and permit the same to be soldered, welded or otherwise secured in place. The upper end of the sloping top 35 is bent a horizontal direction to provide the inner shoulder or supporting flange portion 37 on which the neck portion 38 rests and is secured. in order to provide means for more securely fastening the neck 38 to the sloping dome portion 35, I have shown the lower end of the neck 38 flared outwardly to provide the downwardly disposed flange portion 39 arranged to overlap the upper end of the dome )ortion and suitably secured thereto by wel ding, soldering or otherwise; the flange 39 also assisting to reenforce the tank at this point. The inwardly disposed portion or flange 37 of the sloping dome portion 35 is adapted to extend within the neck 33 to provide a support for the inner cover member 19 which may be identical in construction with the cover member 19 in Figure 1 and be provided with the filling tube 20, pump 21 and measuring gauge 22. By turning the metal inwardly at the juncture of the dome and neck portion, a cover seat 1S provided, thereby obviating the necessity of securing a separate flange or ring at said point. The inner cover member 19, in this construction, is shown securedin place by means of suitable bolts 40, 40, which may be in the nature of hook-bolts arranged to pass through the inner cover member 19 and form operative relation with the flange or shoulder 37 by having the hook-ends extend beneath the flange 37 and brought into gripping engagement therewith through the screwing up of the nuts on the upper ends of the bolts as shown.

The upper end of the neck 38, like the neck 16, is shown flared or flanged outwardly at 26 and preferably provided with the ring 27, shown right angular in cross-section, to provide a flat surface whereby proper contact with the outer cover mem er 28 may be made to prevent the escape of the oil vapors; the cover member 28 being secured in place in a manner similar to that shown in igure 1 so that unauthorized access to the tank interior may be prevented. The tank in Figure 3, like that in Figure 1, is also intended to be constructed entirely out of sheet metal and to be buried in the ground so as to merely expose the upper en neck with the outer cover.

My improved tank is more especially intended for the storage of gasoline and the like, in a considerable quantity, and in such manner that danger of explosion will be practically eliminated; as the tank is intended to be submerged or buried in the ground preferably outside of a building or garage, with the outer cover securely locked in place to prevent unauthorized access while inwardly 1n 1 d of the 1 ion permitting the cover to be easily removed when desired for the purpose of refilling the tank through the supply pipe 20 after removing the filling-pipe cap 20. The upper end of the supply pipe 20 being preferably threaded for the cap 20, will also permit a hose-coupling to be screwed thereon, thereby enabling the tank to be filled by means of a hose leading from the supply wagon or tank at a distance therefrom, if desired.

The side walls of the tanks and dome or neck portions have been shown reenforced by means of circumferentially disposed corrugations, but it will be readily understood that the reenforcement of the side walls of the tank, as well as the dome or neck portions, may be accomplished in any other suitable manner. The improved tank has been illustrated with the orifice in the top smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the neck or dome so as to leave a portion of the top adjacent to the orifice extending into the neck or dome to provide a seat for the inner cover, but it will be understood that the inner cover support may be obtained in a different manner, as for example by having the flange portion ,17 consist of a separate metallic member welded or otherwise secured in place; and instead of employing the metallic ring 27 about the upper orifice of the neck or dome, the flat seat or contacting surface for the outer cover member 28 may be obtained by merely employing the flanged upper end 26 of the neck; the ring 27 however, assisting in reenforcing the upper end of the neck. It will be understood that the neck or dome is preferably constructed to permit the inner cover member 19 to be lifted .therethrough when necessary. y

I have described what I believe to be the simplest embodiments of my invention, especially adapted for the purpose hereinbefore stated and have described the inventionin terms merely employed as terms of description and not as terms of "limitation, as structural modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a tank comprising a self-supportingfluid-holding metallic shell or wall provided with a neck portion, a horizontally disposed shoulder or flange at the inner orifice thereof, an inner cover member seated on said shoulder and provided with a filling tube, a measuring gauge and a pump communicating with the lower end of said tank, means whereby the inner cover member is locked in place, and an outer cap or cover member ada ted to be locked to the outer end of said nee portion.

2. A tank of the character described, comprising a self-supporting fluid holding metallic shell or wall, the top whereof is orificed, a self-supporting metallic neck portion flanged at its lower end and secured to.

said top so as to provide an inwardly disposed shoulder at the lower end of said neck portion, an inner cover member seated on said shoulder and provided with a filling tube and a pump, means secured on the inside of said neck portion whereby the inner cover member is locked in place, and an outer cap or cover member adapted to form interlocking engagement with the upper end said neck portion.

A tank of the character described. comprising a reenforced metallic shell or wall, provided with a reenforced dome or neck portion, an inwardly disposed flange arranged at the lower end of the dome or neck portion, an inner cap, adapted to be seated on said flange provided in its periphery with notches or grooves, lugs arranged on the interior of said neck or dome portion, in a plane above said flange, adapted to register with said notches or grooves, whereby the inner cap may be held on its seat when said notches or grooves are out of register with said lugs, said inner cap being provided with a filling tube, a pump and a measuring gauge, all supported and carried thereby, and an outer cover member or cap adapted to be locked on the outer orifice of said dome or neck portion.

4. A tank of the character described,comprising a self supporting fluid holding metallic shell or body unit, the top whereof is orificed, a. self-sup orting metallic dome or unit disposed on t e top of said body unit and flanged at its lower end, with the flange arranged parallel with the top of the body unit and disposed inwardly and secured thereto to reenforce the tank and provide a supporting seat, the upper end of the dome unit being provided with-areenforcing ring adapted to provide a horizontally disposed flat surface and being provided with an apertured lobe or ear, an outer cover member having a downwardly and inwardly disposed lug adapted to interlock with said reenforcing ring and an apertured lug adapted to extend adjacent to said apertured lobe or ear to be locked thereto, and an inner cap adapted to be seated on said seat at the lower orifice of said dome or neck, said inner cap being provided with a filling tube, a pump and a measur ng gauge.

5. A tank of the character descrlbed,com-

rising a fluid holding metallic shell or Body unit, a metallic dome or neck unit flanged at its lower end, with the flange arran (1 parallel with the ad acent portion of t e body unit and secured thereto to provide a reenforcing inwardly disposed portion to constitute a. cover-seat, while the upper end of the dome or neck unit is also flanged to provide a cover-seat. an inner cover seated on said first mentioned coverseat and removably locked thereto, said with a laterally disposed portion to provide cover being provided with a pump, a measan outer cover seat, an outer cover member uring gau e and a filling tube, an outer seatable on said laterally disposed portion cover seata le on said second mentioned seat, of the neck unit, and means whereby the means whereby said outer cover may have outer cover member may be locked in place. interlocking engagement with one side of 7 Atank of the character described, comthe upper flanged end of the dome or neck prising a reenforced metallic shell or body unit, and registering means on the last menunit provided in its top with an opening,

tioned cover and the dome or neck unit to a reenforced metallic neck or dome unit permit said cover to be locked in place. superposed on said body unit about the 6. A tank of the character described,eomopening therein, cover-supporting means prising ,a fluid-holding metallic shell or within the neck unit, an inner cover menr body unit, a metallic dome or neck unit, ber seated on said means and removable the abutting portions of the body unit and through said neck unit, an outer cover memneck unit being formed to extend parallel her for the neck unit, and means whereby and be secured together, the neck unit bethe outer cover member is removably locked ing provided in its interior with a projectin place.

ing portion adapted to constitute a cover OTTO S. FLATH. seat, an inner cover member adapted to be Witnesses:

seated on and secured to said seat, said G. HExnMAN,

cover member being provided with a filling F. A. Fmanm,

tube, a pump and a measuring gauge, the

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No 1,459,327, granted June 19, 1923, upon the efaplication of Otto S. Flath, of Chicago, Illinois, or an improvement in Storage anks, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, after line 22, cloir'n 6, insert the words upper and of the neck unit being provided and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this corroegion therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 17th day of July, A, D., 1923.

[sun] WM. A. KINNAN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

